CANACONA
Work on the Rs 6.5 crore beautification project at Triveni-Sangam in the heart of Loliem-Polem began on Saturday with the laying of the foundation stone.
Tribal Welfare Minister Ramesh Tawadkar laid the foundation stone in the presence of ZP (Poinguinim) member Ajit Lolienkar and Loliem-Polem Sarpanch Nisha Chari.
The project covers an 800-metre stretch between temples, a church and the Panchayat Ghar. It includes road development and widening, construction of three culvert bridges, renovation of the temple pond with lighting, a jogging and walking track, benches on both sides of the road, a bus shelter and a children’s play area.
Sarpanch Nisha Chari welcomed the gathering, while GSIDC consultant and architect Datte Kare explained the scope of work planned in the first phase. GSIDC General Manager S. Sangodkar and the contractor were also present.
Ajit Lolienkar said the project was initiated during his tenure as village sarpanch along with former Deputy Speaker and former Canacona MLA Isidore Fernandes. He added that Minister and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar later secured government approval and the award of the tender.
Among those present were Panchayat Secretary Sandeep S. Desai, Damodar Vidyalaya Headmaster Jeetendra Amshekar, Canacona BJP Block President Prabhakar Gaonkar, and BJP General Secretaries Divakar Pagi and Sanjiv Tilve.
Dy Sarpanch, six panchas skip event
CANACONA: The Deputy Sarpanch and six panchas of Loliem–Polem stayed away from the foundation stone-laying ceremony amid allegations that they were neither consulted nor acknowledged in the invitations or on the foundation stone. In a press note, Loliem resident Prashant Pagi said that although the project was meant to improve public spaces, connectivity and recreational facilities for the people of Loliem, photographs from the function showed that only the Sarpanch and one panch member were present. “The Deputy Sarpanch, the ward panch and the remaining panch members were conspicuously absent. Were they not invited, or did they boycott the function?” Pagi asked.
